December 25, 2009
India Post
27
www.indiapost.com
Ocean Film Festival moving to Monterey Peninsula India Post News Service
T
he Blue Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Summit will relocate its global ocean-focused event to the Monterey Peninsula beginning in 2010, festival officials announced at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The initial Monterey festival - with the aquarium as the presenting sponsor - is planned for August 25-29, 2010.
A scene from ĂŤCall of the Killer WhaleĂ
Blue's international film competition Call for Submissions will open in mid-January and film festival passes for the inaugural Monterey event will go on sale in late February. "With the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and the many research and conservation organizations based here, the Monterey Peninsula is truly an epicenter of all things ocean," said Debbie Kinder, executive director of the festival. "Given our mission 'to use the power of film and
visual media to help protect the oceans and the life within,' and our vision for the industry conference to empower and inspire ocean professionals to create great films and media that inspire better ocean stewardship, we found the Monterey Bay area to be an ideal place to base our international event and outreach efforts." Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard welcomed the decision to move the festival to Monterey. "Films play a key role in connecting people everywhere with the beauty and wonder of the oceans," Packard said. "Done well, they can compel people to care more, then do more to protect the oceans. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's expertise is in exhibiting living creatures, but some stories are best told through film. We're very pleased to support BLUE as the festival's presenting sponsor. It's an event we feel is both important and needed." Since its debut in June 2009, 'Blue' has been recognized for bringing together the world's greatest collection of ocean films, esteemed filmmakers and marine experts. It is also the first event of its kind to combine an international ocean film competition, a professional underwater filmmakers' and photographers' conference, and high-profile conservation presentations, along with community educational outreach and entertainment activities. "What a beautiful platform, and one
that takes us one step closer to nurturing our ocean planet back to health," said Fabien Cousteau, an ocean explorer, environmentalist and member of the festival advisory board. The move to the Monterey Peninsula comes after the successful launch of the inaugural Blue festival in Savannah, Georgia in June, and invitations to make a permanent home on the West Coast from Dan
Basta, director of the National Marine Sanctuary system, Bill Douros, West Coast Regional Director for the National Marine Sanctuaries and Pacific Grove-based filmmaker Bob Talbot, Kinder said. After several scouting trips and encouraging meetings with the aquarium and community leaders including Ted Balestreri of the Cannery Row Company, organizers decided to make the move, she said.